The Last Room

Men that would be entertained as her suiter would slowly try to mold her into the shape they wished for her instead of the one she was. Not understanding that Carmina was her own breed. Putting her into a box of any sort was like trying to get a colander to stay full of water or lighting a taper candle with the hopes the wax might not melt. Many people love a good challenge but one must recognize when one is futile.

Truly the best advice she could give anyone now is, "do not look at a rose, cut it and then wonder why it doesn't grow". Carmina knew after years of hard lessons that she was not meant to be formed by others and if she was to ever truly have a match, it would be more of a transplant. No trimming or removing of herself would be required, someone somewhere would accept her. Her roots would not be lost to her souls mate but instead they would just be replanted in a land they shared together as their own. The depths of her mind of a ocean were vast before her choice but as she spent more time thinking the darker her waters grew. (darker waters are deeper)

Carmina had made a choice to be celibate until she knew herself again, and understood what she truly looked for in a partner. Slowly as she healed from life's mishaps she started taking wonderful baths. Giving herself time to rest when the day was long. Buying herself flowers and changing her wardrobe that had turned into a history of exes favorites, into her own comfy cute green clothes. Till one day she had finally fallen into a healthy love, Carmina had learned to love herself, ever curve, giggle and cuddle.

Most days she was making art or expanding her knowledge on different subjects from space, to mythology, plants to old movies. Carmina had always found joy in the simple things. Seeing a butterfly or a Stellar Jay would easily make her day. She tried new recipes and remember old ones that had been left on the shelf in relationships with picky eaters. Though she was a great day dreamer about who might be her person, she had become content in the idea that it was better to be alone than to be with the wrong person. She was completely happy spending her nights watching black and white movies, playing the ukulele or video games for over a years time.

Then came a Friday night Carmina would never forget. After many days indoors ( first because of a pandemic and then by choice) A few days before the weekend started, a note appeared on her doorstep. She had a big dog who barked at everything and had barked to tell her, but by the time she made it to the door to check things out, no one was there just the letter was to be found.

"Dear, miss

I do not know if you are single, but I couldn't help but think I would be dumb not to try. If you are taken then please take my apology and read no further.

If you are however single and free on Friday night at 8pm I would like to ask you out? Truly it could be as friends or more, either would suit me. Just the idea of getting to know you sounds like a great time. I hear you singing sometimes and have seen you the few times when you leave the house. Occasionally your laugh carries on the wind and I am myself made to giggle. It seems I may have become smitten at the very least with the idea of your friendship. I do not know if that this all is too strange but not trying always ends in failure. So I made the choice to try. I will knock twice on Friday, if you decide to open the door we will meet, and if not I completely understand.

-your neighbors friend, Tom"

Carmina was a mix of surprised and intrigued, she hadn't really seen her neighbors. She had a sprinkle of anxiety, so most days a point was made to not look at people who lived around her. For some reason she thought that meant they themselves would not notice her. Now proven wrong she wondered who this might be. The Tom fellow had said that it could just be two friends going out, so what could this harm? Carmina hadn't been out with a friend of any sort in a long time. This could be training wheels to being around a man again.

Friday 8pm came, Carmina was dressed up in a cute green dress with a green purse to match. (Green is here favorite color) As she finished putting on her make up she heard her dog barking but she had not heard a knock. She shrugged, the dog got louder instead of being silent once told to stop like normal. So Carmina went to the door front door and threw it open.

No part of her was expecting someone to be standing there. At first the only thing she saw was a bow tie, startled she stepped back and looked up, was this Tom? The gentleman that stood before her was gorgeous. She stuttered like she had when nervous as a little girl. "He-he-hello sir, are you Tom?" He nodded his head while saying "Yes miss" Carmina rushed back inside to grab her coat, as she stumbled back out the door. Tom catches her, now blushing from eat to ear she says "Why thank you sir", he burst out laughing and ask, "Why do you keep calling me sir?" Carmina with a slight giggle replies, "well you look like a prince, sir" He stares in her eyes curiously, "what else would arrive for a princess" She smiles as they walk to, his car? It was a Pierce=Arrow town car. With a driver that opened the door for the both of them. At this point I would of believed it, if Carmina had fainted, what was this world she was stepping into, did she fall asleep while waiting, was this all just a dream? Under her purse she pinched herself slightly to make sure. If this was a dream it was truly more than anything her mind had ever came up with before and so life like.

About 5 minutes into the drive once Carmina got a grip and decided if this was a dream then why not make the most of it, she spoke up. (Until this point they both had seemingly been playing a game of Look Away. Neither party had seemed to be blinking. Both looking at each other like they wanted to break the ice but had forgot a chisel or maybe the bucket to contain all they wanted to say. ) "Where are we going?" she asked very quietly almost as though a mouse. Tom quickly replied with a sigh of relief that the lady had not gone mute "that little miss is a surprise". For a moment the car fell silent again. Carmina looking at Tom as though, she had went first now it was his turn. He seemed to pick up on her que "I know this all might seem like a lot but I have been taught that first impressions are very important" She looked at him and giggled "Well you sure have made one" Tom himself began to laugh, "truly I hope so, even if this is just a friendly outing, to know a woman with the voice of a angel seems like any and all time well spent" Now they were both laughing, soon red faced. After a couple of minutes they started to gasp for air and slowed their laughs. "So what do you do for fun?" asked Carmina but at this time they pulled up to a......helicopter ?

She looked at him like a quirky mad man at this point. Tom spoke up, seeing this was more than she had ever known "don't worry we don't have much further to go, this is just much more fun then a elevator" Carmina was still confused by everything but the streak of adventure in her blood was running hot. She grabbed his hand that lye in wait for her to exit the car. They went running to get in, her holding the beautiful green dress down to prevent anything not appropriate from showing. Once in the air she just looked out the window in ah, many times she had been on plans in her life but they are only over the cities for a short time before the views become clouds. Tom stared at her as she looked out. A slight jerk made Carmina jump, grapping Toms hand, then pulling it back "I'm sorry" with his reply a big smile "there is no need to be".

Soon they landed on the top of a building, they went inside a glass enclosure filled with flowers and a wonderfully set table in the center. Carmina could of went home after the helicopter and still found the night to be grand but this, this was like having desert before the meal had even arrived. Tom looking like this was just as exciting for him "Do you like it, I do not mean to be too forward but this all seemed like a good idea" She looked at him and smiled "it is the most beautiful idea I have ever bared witness to and am very thankful to get to be apart of it" He replied "this would of never been a thought if I had not lay eyes on you". They both sat down, he handed her a menu. It was a wine menu, "I do not actually drink, I hope that's okay, my doctor took it off my menu many years ago" Tom looked at her and shrugged "do you ever still wish to drink?" Carmina replied "occasionally". He then said something that surprised her, "Well then you will still pick out my wine and I shall describe it to you". This was exciting, a few weeks before she had taken a quiz to see what type of wine was "her type" just for giggles. When she had still drank, plum wine was her favorite. She looked down the list in hope, and there it was "The Last Room" a red wine that had been pared to her and she very much so liked the label. Carmina stated "I will choose this one, but might I ask to keep the label after words, not only is it a work of art, it will be something to keep in homage to this wonderful night, that I'm sure I wont forget but would be happy to have a little piece to hold when remembering". Tom agreed with the adding statement "I should hope many more like this night will come and even someday, day times that we will also remember". She smiled and then Tom ordered everything on the food menu stating "Just incase you are the type of lady to think you need only a salad, we shall at least try a bite of every morsel they offer" They both talked about their favorite things while waiting on the order. (This had also been part of Toms well thought out plan, it would at least be a hour before the food came out which would give him plenty of time to get to know Carmina and her him)

When the bottle of wine arrived Tom picked up his glass and began to describe the taste, "it is like a warm berry pie filled with strawberries, cherries, and blackberries with a touch of spice". Carmina hung on ever word it was a very cute moment, staring at each other like they were sharing the glass. Once the food arrived they took turns trying bites of each meal and when one liked the dish they would ask the other if they would like a bite. This slowly became them very elegantly feeding each other. Every plate had at least one bite taken out of it, and they organized them by, A: would order again, B: would be good on occasion, C: might of made a mistake.

Both full, they spent at least another hour just chatting about life. Tom notice Carmina was getting tired but obviously trying to hide it. He then said "It is time this night ends" Carmina sighed "aww this has been (while yawning) the most wonderful night I have ever known, the only sad moment is that it's ending". Tom smiled " well it does not have to" at this point they are walking down the hall.

They stop in front of a door. From tired now to wideawake, Carmina says "sir, this has been wonderful but as I said before when chatting, I've been celibate for over a year now, this has been amazing but one night isn't enough for me to give myself over to someone". Tom smiles bigger "Well miss, that was not my plan at all" He opens the door and its a pent house with two rooms. He states "the one to the left is for you, to the right for me, I still haven't been told if this was a date or just hanging out. I did figure that it might be a late night however, so I made arrangements for sleeping quarters. Now my lady to you think you are awake enough to watch a movie with me before bed?" Carmina who was now completely awake at least for the time being nodded her head yes. They both sat next to each other on a wonderfully fluffy comfy couch. The movie was Pride and Prejudice which happened to be her favorite.

Though jolted awake by the last surprise of the night soon Carmina couldn't keep her eyes open any more. Tom picked her up and carried her to her door. Then gently putting her feet on the floor. She woke back up smiling at him. Tom asked "I must know before this night is over, was it a date or did we hang out" Carmina answered softly " it was the most wonderful first date one has ever had" Tom with a big smile pulled her close then said "may I kiss you?" she answered yes. This was the first kiss of dreams. Then he said goodnight. Going to his room, and she to her own. On the bed were brand new PJ's with a note that said

"I am so happy you answered the door-Tom"

Carmina got comfy and after a while fell asleep. What would the morning bring, what if she goes to sleep and wakes up and it was all a dream. She guessed there as only one way to find out. ZZzzZzzZZZzzzZzzZzZzzZzzzzzz